H.R. Tickell was midshipman on battleships HMS Resolution (ex-Renown, renamed 1890) and HMS Empress of India (built 1892), both with the English Channel squadron, between January and August 1896. He then joined, as midshipman, HMS Talbot, commissioned in 1896. Tickell served with the Talbot on the West Indies Station, with the ship also visiting Halifax, New York and Montreal for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubileee celebrations in June 1897. The log ends with the Talbot's West Indies cruise of April to June 1898. In addition to a log of his ships' movements and routines there are 61 maps, charts and illustrations in ink, watercolour and pencil, all by Tickell, including 30 charts and maps, 12 drawings of ships and 8 technical drawings.

List of original charts, maps and illustrations: [p.1] HMS Empress of India (Channel Squadron) [p.9] HMS Resolution at Keil [p.10] Portland Harbour [p.19] Cruise chart, English Channel squadron, 11-14 February 1896 [p.20] HMS Empress of India (section with armour scheme) [p.29] Full scale drawing of Mark 1 time fuse; HMS Decoy [p.30] Deck indicator and lock to flooding valves of magazines [p.39] Sketch of armour behind athwartship armour [p.40] HMS Blenheim [p.49] Chart, course of Empress of India to Lough Swilly, Co. Donegal [p.50] Chart, Luce Bay, Galloway and Tor Bay, Devon [p.59] Plan of Greenoch and Tamlash [p.60] HMS Empress of India [p.69] Chart, course and anchorage, Oban and Loch Leven [p.70] HMS St. Vincent [p.76-80] HMS Empress of India, St Michaels Mount, Chart of Belfast Lough, HMS Talbot, Illustrated title page for HMS Talbot's log [p.86] Drawing of friction brake, elevation forward [p.95-96] Track chart of Channel squadron, Berehaven, Bantry Bay [p.107] Track Chart of HMS Talbot, Bermuda to Jamaica [p.113-114] Chart, Halifax, Nova Scotia to Bermuda and Bermuda Islands [p.117] Chart, Bermuda to Antigua [p.119] Chart, St Johns anchorage, Antigua [p.122] Track of HMS Talbot, St. Kitts to Barbados [p.124-125] Map of Jamaica, Section drawing of fan pistol of an 18 inch R.G.F torpedo [p.129] Track of HMS Talbot, Grenade to St. Vincent [p.135-137] Chart 'Sugar Commissioning Trip', HMS Australia, Daimond Rock off Martinique [p.139] Roseau, Dominica [p.145-146] 4.7 inch projectiles, Jumping gear for 37 foot steam pinnace [p.155-156] Coaling ports and scuttles arrangements, Track chart : Jamaica to New York [p.166] Track chart, Bermuda-Halifax-Bermuda [p.175] Chart, Halifax to Montreal (Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee) [p.186] Approach to Halifax, Nova Scotia [p.196] HMS Renown, flying flag of Vice-Admiral Fisher [p.205-207] Charts, Passage of Gut Of canso, Nova Scotia and Halifax to Antigua. Port of Castries, St Lucia [p.215] Track chart; Antigua-St. Lucia-Barbados-Grenadine-Trinidad-Barbados [p.225] Track chart; Barbados-Bermuda [p.235] USS Helena [p.245] Track chart; West Indian cruise [p.264-265] Ireland Island, Bermuda, showing HM dockyard; Section drawing, 12 pounder S11 mounting. [p.274-275] Wreck of USS Maine in Havana harbour; Entrance to Havana harbour [p.276] Track chart; Bermuda-Nassau [p.283] Chart, entrance to Havana harbour [p.293] Track chart, cruise of HMS Talbot, 30 April to 30 June 1898